Kejriwal meets Rajnath for support on car curbs, says response positive
Kejriwal meets Rajnath for support on car curbs, says response positive
Lone women drivers and government service vehicles such as ambulances, fire tenders and PCR vans have been exempted from restrictions being imposed by the Kejriwal government on plying of private vehicles in the city from January 1.
Admitting that his government had announced the plan without thrashing out its modalities, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday met Union home minister Rajnath Singh seeking the Centre’s support. With the announcement of the odd-even scheme becoming a huge public issue which has found supporters as well as critics, the Union home minister has advised the Kejriwal government that before imposing an odd-even car ban in the capital, it must sit down and work out its modalities, to prevent chaos in the capital.
The Kejriwal government has yet not taken a decision on plying of two-wheelers, private vehicles driven by senior citizens, women drivers with children, lone women who travel with a male driver or other women, and so on.
Incidentally, buses, autorickshaws, trucks are not covered under the scheme specifically meant to curb air pollution, bringing only private vehicles under the curbs.
Soon after meeting the Union home minister, Mr Kejriwal said Mr Singh’s response was “very positive.”
“He said the Centre and the Delhi police will fully support the move. He flagged few concerns like exempting vehicles carrying patients or being driven by women and other emergencies. Something has to be worked out on this. There are two-three suggestions. We will consider them and which may be exempted,” Mr Kejriwal said.
The Kejriwal government requires the Centre’s backing given the fact that the enforcement authority, the Delhi police functions under the control of the Union home ministry.
Sources said the enforcement of the curbs will also be a bone of contention as the traffic wing of the Delhi police has already maintained that it is overstretched and does not have manpower to enforce the curbs.
Asked whether his government was diluting the scheme in the face of criticism as it did not have a well-prepared scheme, Mr Kejriwal said, “We had one option that we would continue doing homework for the next two years even as children would continue to die and cough. I would continue to cough as well.”
The second option was to take a concrete decision and work out the issues together, he said. “Let’s do it for 15 days and learn and then do it again. What’s the issue here ”
Mr Kejriwal also raised the issue of installation of CCTV cameras across Delhi and Mr Singh assured him of cooperation. “We will be needing the police’s help in the case of CCTV cameras as well because ultimately the feed will go directly to them. The issue is in the Delhi high court now and there is needless bickering. We will together work this out,” Mr Kejriwal said.
Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia and Delhi home minister Satyendar Jain were also present at the meeting with Mr Singh.
In a radical step to curb air pollution, the Delhi government on Friday announced that private vehicles bearing odd and even registration numbers will be allowed to ply only on alternate days starting January 1.
Mr Kejriwal will hold a review meet with all his Cabinet ministers and officials from transport, environment, PWD and revenue departments Thursday. The Delhi government will also hold a meeting with the heads of schools in the national capital to see if the school buses can be also roped into the mission.
On Tuesday, transport minister Gopal Rai had said that the government will come out with a detailed blueprint by December 25 which will answer all the questions being raised by experts and public on the scheme.
